Nigeria, Ghana Set to Launch Africa Local Content Forum to Drive Jobs and Regional Growth

Nigeria and Ghana are taking a bold step toward reshaping Africa’s economic future by establishing the Africa Local Content Forum a strategic initiative designed to deepen indigenous participation in the continent’s energy and industrial sectors.

This collaborative effort is being driven by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, and energy industry conveners AOW:Energy. Together, they aim to unlock Africa’s full potential by accelerating job creation, promoting inclusive economic growth, and ensuring value retention within the continent.

At the forefront of this groundbreaking initiative are Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe of NCDMB, Ms. Emeafa Hardcastle of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission, and Mr. Paul Sinclair, CEO of AOW:Energy. These three leaders are united by a shared vision to position Africa as a self-reliant, globally competitive player in the energy and resource sectors through homegrown talent and enterprise.

Described as a “purpose-driven platform,” the Africa Local Content Forum is not just another conference. It is structured to deliver real, measurable outcomes through high-level policy coordination, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives. The forum will officially debut at AOW:Energy 2025, where it will serve as a central hub for promoting local content policies and elevating African businesses.

“We believe in an Africa where value is created, retained, and celebrated within our own borders,” the partners said in a joint declaration. “This partnership is a unified step toward making African content the standard.”

Sinclair emphasized that Africa, with over a decade of major oil and gas discoveries, is uniquely positioned to secure both regional energy sufficiency and global export capacity. He stressed that prosperity in natural resource development depends on strong local participation and value addition areas where the forum is expected to make a significant impact.

For Africans in the diaspora, the initiative presents an open invitation to engage with the continent’s economic transformation. From investment and professional consulting to entrepreneurship and supply chain participation, the forum creates new pathways for diaspora-led contributions in shaping Africa’s future.

“This is the Africa we believe in bold, visionary, and united,” Sinclair added. “The Africa Local Content Forum will be a defining moment where African institutions claim the future with confidence and collective strength.”

The collaboration between Nigeria, Ghana, and AOW:Energy sends a clear message: Africa’s moment is now, and its future will be built by Africans at home and in the diaspora working together with a shared sense of purpose and pride